Container closing machine



Oct. 31, 1950 F, w, KRUEGER 2,527,8 85

CONTAINER CLOSING MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 1946 l 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 |03 92 44 www# 05 94 L '9" I 7i? aa O H5 95 |o6-/| "a '3' |40 9 l0 L4; 7 64 'so 964 68 l5 75 lg, 68 75 67 @-54 67 70 o 7 0 a4 2| kowoju als l |54 L@ |48 I 2 gev 1L |56 '55 |59 l u l |60 |65 |Nv|sNToR FRANK W. KRUEGEI?. -E'IE-l l BY @aL/,MQW

ATTORNEY oct. 31, 195o F. w. KRUEGER 2,527,885

CONTAINER CLOSING MACHINE Filed Feb. 13, 1946- 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR lm/VK w. Knuf-GER. FIL- i# E @ga ATTORNEY Oct. 3l, 1950 F. w. KRUEGER 2,527,885

CONTAINER CLOSING MACHINE f Filed Feb.Y 13, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIEJI INVENTOR |46 l g5/aww( w. KRUEG'ER.

@KLV d ATTORNEY Oct. 3l, 1950 F, w, KRUEGER 2,527,885

CONTAINER CLOSING MACHINE Filed Feb. '15, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 2 4 FRANK w. KRUEGER.

ATTORNEY oct. 31,1950 Rw, KRUEGER 2,527,855

CONTAINER CLOSING MACHINE Filed Feb. 13, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 3l, 1950 CONTAINER CLOSING `MACHINE Frank W. Krueger, San Jose, Calif., assigner to Food Machinery andChemical Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application February 13, 1946, Serial No. 647,363

11 claims.l

The present invention appertains to container closing machines for ,applying tin covers to containers and for hermetically sealing the same.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a seaming machine of the spinning type for applying tin caps to glass containers.

One object of the present invention is to provide a seaming machine for applying tin caps to glass containers into hermetic sealing engagement therewith and for spinning the caps onto the mouth rim of the containers into rm locking engagement therewith irrespective of any irregularities of the container.

Another object is to provide a seaming machine wherein the seaming rolls accommodate themselves to any irregularities and out-of-round conditions of the containers and establish their own plane of operation relative to the containers depending upon any irregularities thereof.

Another object is to provide a seaming machine wherein the seaming rolls effect a downward Vtucking action upon the skirt of the cap during spinning thereof onto the mouth rim of the container.

Another object is to provide a seaming machine for applying metal caps to containers wherein the mouth rim of the container is automatically positioned in a horizontal plane relative to the seaming rolls irrespective of any disalignment between the mouth rim and the bottom surface ofY y;

the container.

A Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from theV following description and'drawings in which:

Fig. l' is a frontlview of'the container closing machine of the present invention with the container supporting table thereof shown in" its lowermost position and a glass jar positioned thereon. y Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1; the container supporting table with a glass jar positioned thereon is shown inl its uppermost position while the seaming rolls are illustrated in seaming position.

Fig. 3 is a'vertical section through the seaming head of the machine, a portion of the supporting table Aand a container positioned thereon. The table and the container being illustrated in their uppermost position.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 1, certain parts being broken away. Y

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section of a portion of Fig. 4 taken along line 5 5 thereof.

Fig. 6 is a section taken along line `6 6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged vertical section of the glass jar supporting table; the parts thereof being shown in inoperative position.

Fig. 8 is a section of Fig. '7 taken along lines 8--8 thereof. v y

Figs. 9, l0, and 1l vare elevational views of one seaming arm of the present invention and certain parts associated therewith illustrating the various steps of operation thereof; a portion of the sealing chamber, neck of the container, cap, and chuck being shown in section.

Fig. 12 is a detail View of a cap holding 'linger and certain parts associated therewith. w Referring' now to the drawings, and especiall to Figs. '1 to 4,.ir`1clusive, I indicates the frame structure of the machine which comprises a base 2 and an upright frame portion 3 provided with laterally extending arms 4 and 5. Secured to the laterally extending arms 4 and 5 by means of' radially extending brackets 'I and 8 and cap screws 9 and I0 is a seaming head I I. This seaming head I I comprises a tubular supporting member I4 of which the brackets 1 and 8, previously referred to, are integral parts. Attached to the lower end of the tubular supporting member by means of set screws I5 is a sealing head I6 having a sealing .chamber I'I vwhich is open at its lower end for the introduction of the neck portion of a glass jar I8 and a cap. I 9 to be applied thereto.. The seaming head is provided at its periphery with a plurality of openings 20 equally spaced from each other) y Y Formed in thelower end of the sealing head I6 is an annular steam conduit 2- I provided with va plurality of upwardly linclined steam outlets for admitting steamV from the conduit ZI into the sealing chamber I1 and the glass jar or container in upwardly directed jets against the mouth rim of thecontainer and the underside of the cap I9 when the containerisdisposed in steaming-or Y vacuumizing position within Vthe sealing chamber I 1. .l

The outer peripheral wall 23 `of the annular. steam conduit 2| is made as a separate part and is secured' to the steam conduit 2l by means of screws Av gasket or sealing compound is preferably disposed between the peripheral wall 23 and the remainder of the conduit 2| so as to establish a steam tight connection therewith. The steam conduit 2| is provided with a steam inlet pipe 25 which in turn is connected to a hose 26 from a source of steam supply by means of a hose coupling 21. Any appropriate control mechanism well known in the art may be provided for controlling the admittance of steam from the source of supply into the steam conduit 2| in timed relation with the operation of -the machine.

Rotatably mounted within the tubular supporting member I4 by means of ball bearings 3| and 32 (Fig. '3) is a chuck operating shaft 33 to the lower end of which a chuck 34 is threadedly connected for rotation therewith, as shown at 35.

Slidably disposed within a central bore 3.1 of

the shaft 33 is a rod 38 to the lower end of which a circular ejector plate 39 is secured in any con-- vement manner. This ejector plate 39 is received within a circular recess 40 xof the chuck 34 so that when the plate 39 is in retracted position its bottom face is flush with the bottom face of the. chuck 34. The upper end of the central bore 31 of shaft 33" is of enlarged diameter, as shown at 4| and positioned therein is a coil spring. 42 surrounding the upper end of the rod 38 to which an actuating knob 43 provided with a hub portion 44, slidably arranged within the enlarged bore portion 4|, is secured. The spring 42 is disposed between the shoulder 45 of the shaft.33 and the lower end 46 of the hub 44 of the knob 43, so that the. actuating knob 43 and the rod 38 are normally held in their uppennost position under the action of the spring 42 with the ejector plate 39 disposed within the recess. 4o of the chuck 34, previously referred to.

Attached to the sealing head I6v by means of screws (Figs. 3, 5, and 12) are a plurality of leaf springs52 provided with fingers 53 extending through openings 54 in the sealing head into the sealing chamber I1 soasto engage and hold a cap presentedv thereto in said chamber prior to its application to the glass jar. Due to the resilient mounting of the fingers 53 and the inclined face 53a, of these fingers, the same will swing slightly outward when a cap4 is inserted into the sealing, chamber I1 so as to permit its introduction into the chamber with the upper surface of the cap spaced from the lower surface of. the chuck while` the ngers will engage the cap with sufcient pressure to hold the same in position.

The tubular supporting member I4, is further provided with a plurality of ears 51 and 58 arranged; in cooperatingv pairs within each of which a seaming, arm supporting yoke 59 and an actuating arm 6! are pivotally mounted by means of a pivot pin 62; Secured toeach supporting yoke 5a by means of screws 63 isaseaming arm 64 whichY comprisesa comparatively firm leaf spring 65 to the lower end of which a substantially cylindrical casting 61 is secured by means of screw 68. deflection at a predetermined pressure. Rotatably mounted on each casting 61 by means ofa pivot pin 69 and roller bearing 69a is a seaming roll` 10. These seaming rollers project through the openings 2o' of the sealing head I6' into the sealing chamber I1. TheV portion 1| of the pivot pinGB is ofa greater length than the hub portion oftheV seaming roll `so that a play, asshown at 12, between the casting |1V and the seaming roll lil isY provided to permit vertical sliding moverlEhe leaf springs are calibratedfor ment of the seaming roll 18 and bearing 69a on the pivot pin 69 for purposes as will be more specifically explained later on.

Threadedly secured to each casting 61 and extending transversely therethrough is a set screw 15 provided with a lock nut 16. This set screw is adapted to contact the sealing head IE and to limit the inward movement of each sealing arm. Each seaming roll 13 may be of any desired shape as required for the particular seaming operation of the machine and all three seaming rolls, one on each of the three seaming arms employed in connection with the present invention, may be either of the same shape or of different shape to perform the seaming operation in a simultaneous step or in successive steps.

The lower end of each actuating arm Sl is provided with a set screw 18 which engages the supporting yoke. 59 of the seaming arm disposed adjacent thereto. Rotatably mounted on the upper end of each actuating arm 5| by means of a pivot pin 19 is a cam roller 8| which engages theperiphery B2 of a rotary cam 83 mounted for free rotation of the shaft 33 by means of bushings 84 and 85. The cam 83 is provided with a plurality of declivities 83a andv acclivities 83h.

Secured to the hub. portion 8.6 of the rotary cam 83 by means of a clamp 81 isa cam actuating arm 88 (Figs. 3 and Ll). This clamp portion 81 forms an integral' part` of the arm 88. The free end` of the arm 88' is provided with a roller 9| rotatably secured thereto by means of a pivot pin.92 and adapted to. engage the periphery 94., of a rotary cam 95, whichis disposed for free rotationon a vertical shaft` V.95.. The shaft 96. is rotatably mounted within a bearing 91 and an end thrust bearing 98 of laterally extending armsv |0| andY |02, respectively, forming integral parts of the upright frame portion 3 previously referred to. Fixed to the shaft 96 for rotation therewith by means of aset screw |03 is a gear |.U4.whichr interf meshes with a gear. |05 keyed to the upper end of the shaft 33 whereby upon rotation of thegear |04, rotation of the shafts 9B. and 33 is effected.

. The rotary cam is provided with ahubV portion |116 which bearsagainst the upper surface of. the bearing 9,1 so that'the cam 9,5 is heldin proper position relative to the roller 9|. The peripheral cam. surface 9 4 of cam 95 is provided with a declivity |01 and an acclivity |08.

Pivotally mounted on a studt HI] (Figs. 2 andi).Y secured tothe upper end of the upright frame portion 3 is a cam control arm provided with an inclined camming surface ||2 and a hooked end ||3 forming a pin receiving recess I4.. The other end of. the camcontrol arm is provided with a control handle |.|5 while a. torsion spring I6 surroundsthe upper endof the stud. l |01. One end of the spring I |6- is secured at I1 to the arm I |while the other end. of s-aidlspring is secured at |.I8 to the upper'end, of the stud, IIB so that the hooked end ofthearm. I I- is normally forced inwardly toward the bearing 91 and will. either bear against this bearing or engage a cam control pin I2| (Figs. 4 and 5) and receive the same within the recess |.|.4.,v

This cam control pin |,2I (Fig.r 5.). is slidably mounted withina, bore |22 of the. rotary cam- 95 and. islprovided with an annular shoulder |23 adapted to engage a yshoulder |24 of the cam 95. within the bore |22. VSurrounding the pin |2| and interposed between the shoulder |23 thereof. and a springretaining plug |25 is av coil. Spring |26` normally urging the pin |2'| upwardly with its Shoulder |23 into engagement with the shoulder |24 of the cam 95 so that the upper end |21 of the pin |2| will bear against the lower surface ofthe'gear |04 and snap into an opening |28 therein when the same is brought into alignment with the pin |2| during the rotation of the gear |:04'whereby the cam 95 is connected with the gear V| 04 for rotation therewith.

The lower end of the control pin |2| extends into the path of movement of the control arm and is provided with a head I3| having an annular upwardly inclined surface |32 adapted to engage the camming surface ||2 of the arm during the rotation of the gear |04, rotary cam V95, and control pin |2| The resulting camming action between the camming surfaces ||2 and |32 shifts the control pin |2| downwardly out of engagement with the gear |04, i. e., retracts the pin |2| into the cam 95, to thereby interrupt the driying connection established by the pin |2| .ben tween the cam 95 and gear |04. As soon as the pinis disengaged from its driving connection withthe gear |04, the pin |2| is received within the recess ||4 of the control arm and is held therein so that further rotation of the pin |2| andthe cam 95 is immediately arrested.

The driving connection between the gear |04 and cam 95 is re-established when the arm is swung by the operator in the direction of arrow |33 (Fig. 4.) against the action of the torsion spring I6 whereby the pin |2| is released for -upward movement under the action of the spring |26. As soon as the pin |2| has entered the opening |28 of gear |04 the operator releases the arm and the same swings inwardly with its hooked end ||3 into contact with the bearing 91 under the action of the torsion spring |6. While the arm is now in its innermost position in the path of travel of the pin 2|, the cam 95 and control pin |2| perform one complete revolution with the gear |04. At the end of this revolution the inclined surface |32 of the pin |2| is engaged by the camming surface ||2 of the arm and the pin is retracted, i. e., shifted out of engagey ment with the gear |04 whereby further rotation of the cam 95 is arrested as the pin is received within the recess |4 of the arm as above described.

While the rotary cam 95 is rotated one revolution, as above described, the roller 9| leaves the declivity |01 of the peripheral cam surface 94 of the cam 95 and rides along the acclivity |08 thereof, whereby the arm 88is swung and cam 83 is'turned in the direction of arrow |35 (Fig. 4). Upon turning of the cam 83 the acclivities 83h thereof are presented to the rolls 8| of the actuating arms 6|, whereby the rolls are forced outwardly and the arms 6| are swung in the direction of Yarrow |38 (Fig. 3). Thismovement of the y actuating arms 6| forces the set screw 18 thereof against the supporting yokes 59 of the seaming arms 64 and causes inward Vmovement thereof from their position, as shown in Fig..9, to the po' sition shown in Fig. 10, and yfinally to the position illustrated in Fig. 11 so that the seaming rolls 10 are forced against the skirt portion ofthe vcap (Fig. 9) and the same in turn is forcedA against the neck portion of the glass jar, as shown in. Fig.

tend through blocks |51 .and |58 pivotally secured. to'the free ends of actuating arms |59 and I-B0,

l1 when a gl'ass jar is lin position within the seaming head `A successive operation of these rolls may be obtained by arranging the acclivities 83h of cam 83 accordingly. Since the inward movement of the supporting yokes 59, effected by the lactuating arms 6|, is greater than the permissible inward movement of theiseamingfrolls 10,*the leaf springs 65 arebent and are placed under tension (Fig. 10) -so that the seaming rolls are continuously held under pressure against the skirt." portion of the cap and'l continuously force the'same againstthe neck portion of the jar but 1 are free to yield relative thereto for purposes as will be explained more specifically later on.

vfIt should 'further be noted that the ears 51 and- 58, 'pivot pinsI 62, actuating arms 6|, and set.

screws 18 are rso located relative to each other and the sealing head and the length of the leaf spring |55 is such that an inward tilting of the upper end of the casting 61 and a corresponding tilting of the seaming rolls 10 is effected.v This causes a slight downward swing of theseaming rolls during their inward movement as they force the skirt portion of the cap against the neck portion of the jarin the spinning operation,'so that a downward tucking action is exerted by the rolls against the skirt portion of the cap spinning the same firmly under the bead 10a' at the mouth rim ofthe jar.v In this way a tight seal between the..

action of the leaf spring associated therewith withoutv noticeable variation in seaming pressure so that 'each roll can `.follow any out-of-round `condition or other irregularities of the` glass jar during the seaming operation. Consequently, irregularities of the glass jar, variations in tolerance thereof, etc., do not affect the seaming operation or cause improper sealing of the cap to the container. y

As .soon as one complete revolution of the rotary' cam 95 has been'com'pleted, the roller 9| returns into the declivity |01,"the rotary cam 83 returns to its original position with the declivities v83a thereof adjacent the rollers 8| of the actuating arm 6|, the arms 6| are Vreleased and the seaming arms 64 are returned to their original positions under the action of the leaf springs 65 and coil'springs |40 interposed between-the tubular member I4 and theryokes 59.

The glass containers to be closed by the machine of the present invention are supported upon a table structure |45 rotatably mounted "on a .supporting column |46 slidably positioned within a socket |41 forming anintegral part of the frame lstructure intermediate theb'ase 2 and upright portion 3 thereof. Normally when thel table is in its lowermost position, the shoulder |48 of the supporting column |46 rests against the top surface of the socket |41 (Fig. 1).

Secured to the supporting column |46 are hori- 'rzontally extending studs |'5| and |52 on which blocks |53 and r|54 are pivotally mounted. Fixed to the lower ends of the blocks |5'3and |54 are rods 55 and |56, respectively, which slidably exrespectively, the other ends |\6| and |62fof which are xed to a shaft |63 rotatably mounted within the bottom portion of the socket |41. Keyed to the free end of the shaft |63 is an actuating arm or foot pedal |65. Surrounding the rods |55 and |56 and interposed between the blocks |53 and l |51 and |54 and |58, respectively, are coil springs |66 ,andi |67. While threadedly securedl to the free -end of each rod |55 and |56 is a nut |68.

.Rotat'ably mounted on the supporting column HHSl is the-'table structure |45, previously referred to; whichV comprises a cylindrical member |10 (Figs. 3 and 7) within. which a piston |1| is s'lidably mounted. The upper end of the cylindricalmember |10 is provided with 'an annular flange '|12 received within a circular recess |13 of the tabley |11!- and provided with radial slots |12a. The table |1||i comprises a table surface |151 and a table rim |15 threadedly` secured together, as shown at' |1-"|. The table rim |16 is providedfwith a flange |13 which prevents removal of` the table |14 from. the flange |12 of the member |101, while projections |14a extending into the slots |12aestablish a driving conne'ction vbetween the table |14 and thevr sleeve |10. Interposed between the piston |1| and the table surface |15 is a ball |19, while interposed between thepiston HF and a vertical bearing |80 is a coil. spring-T82". The' cylindrical member |10 is rotatahly supported-.onf the upper end of the sup-` porting column |41 by means of the ball bearing |'80"secu=red thereto byy a screw |83.- Th'e coil spring |82' normally forces'- the piston |/1|, ball F19, an'd table IMv upwardly so tha-t the ange |18 'off the table rim engages the ange |12 of the' cylindrical member |10 (Figi. 7) whereby the table' is' held i'n a horizontal position. Formed inftlieouterf periphery of the cylindrical mem-- bei" |'10 fs an elongated' gear |86 which intermeshesf witla gear |81 secured to sha-ft 96 for otation'therewith (Fig 1t). f

When the foot pedal |65 isin? its uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 1, the table is disposed i-rr itslowerrnost` position, as shown in said figure. Toeffect raising of the table l-fl'li to thereby introduce: the neck portion of a container placedthcreon into the seaming chamber l1' and' into rrncontact with capA |19' inserted therein,V the footped'al it?? isswung downward into the position; showntin Fig. 2,*whe'reby the arms |59 and FSSarediSpoSed' in an vertical positionI and the springs' IBand |61 force the'- blocks |53, |54-and studs |i5`|,.`|52r, supporting columny |45; and table 1d upward junti'l the mouth rimof the glass jar positioned thereon enters the seam'ing head' and iiriallyV contacts the cap withinrthe sealing chamber' and forces' thsameaga-inst the arbor 5 34* so that further upward movement of the'gl'ass jar" and" the table' VMA i's arrested. This depresses the' table'against the tension of the coil spring |82 until?- the lower edge |1|a of the piston i'1l contaotstheannular shoulder |'l`0a of the sleeve |10, so that the flange |18 is disengaged from the Vilangef k12 andthe' table is free to tilt and align position. a Cap is is introducedv into the sealing chamber into engagement with the cap holdingngers 53.' which hold the samef'rmly in positioni within the sealing' chamber with the' top surface ofthe cap adjacent but out ofl contact Thev with thejconti'nuously rotating chuck 3'4; caprnay be manuallyl inserted the operator Y or any appropriate automatic cap feeding mechani'sm may be employed.

A glass'jar I8 is manually placed upon the continuously rotating table |1 or maybe automatically'fed thereto by an automatic container feedingV mechanism. Thereupon thefoot pedal- |5E is swung from its position in Fig. l to its position shown in Fig. 2 whereby the tablis raised in a manner as specically described previously herein. During this upward movement of the table |14, the neck portion 203 of the glass jar I8 is introduced into the sealing chamber' l1 and is centered relative to the cap i9 by' the inclined faces 53a. of the cap holding iingers 53" (Fig. l2). While the glass jar is elevated in this' manner and before the sealing surface 204 thereof contacts the sealing ring or sealing compound of the cap is steam is admitted into the annular steam conduit 2| through hose 26 and inlet pipe 25 from a source of steam supply (not shown). The admittance of the steam may be manually or automatically controlled in any conventional manner.

The steam entering the conduit 2| is discharged therefrom in upwardly inclined jets past the sealf ing surface 20e of the jar I8 into the open mouth of the same and against the lower surface of the cap I9. While this steaming action, well known' in the art, takes'place, the upward movement of the glass jar i8 continues until the sealing surface 20% of the jar engages the sealing ringof the cap |9 and lifts the cap into contact with the chuck. 34, Further upward movement of the' jar forcestheY sealing surface 204 into rm sealing engagement with the sealing ring of the cap while the cap is rmly` heldY against further upwardmovement by the'chuck` 34. The supply of steam to the steam conduit 2| is continued until the seaming operation hereinafter described iscompleted and while the glass jar and cap are firmly held between the table |14 and chuck 34 under the action ofthe coil springs |66 and |61, as previously described, and are rotated as a unit withl the table and chuck.

As soon as the'cap |9 contacts the chuck 34, the table Il@ is depressed against the tension of the coil spring |82 and is free to tilt. Therefore, if the' sealing surface 2li-'l' of the jar I8 is not par.- allel tovn the bottom surface 205 of the jar, the table lle' will tilt accordingly and'will automatically compensate for such condition. In other words, Yany'non-parallel disposition of the sealing surface 2(35` with respect to the bottom surface 205 of the jar and vice-versa will be compensated for by a cor1^espcmdingV tilting of the table |14 inV the manner as speciiicall'y referred to previously herein so that under any such condition the sealing surface 204 and the cap are brought into sealing engagement witheach other andare disposed'parallel tothe chuck 34, as clearly shown inliig.v 3. f While the jar and cap are now rmly held between the table |14 and chuck 34 and are rotated a's a unit' therewith the operator swings the con-` trol handle `||5 in the direction of arrowA |33 whereby-the cam control pin |2|' is released and the cam=05 is Yconnected to the gear lill! for rotation therewith. After the control pin isereleased, the operator releases thev control handle ||5 so that the control arm is swung into the path of the control pin |2| under the action of spring H6` and disengages the pin from its driving Vconnection with the gear |04 as soon as the cam A `has completed one complete revolution in the manner as described previously here- During this one complete revolution of cam 95 and while the jar and cap are continuously rotated by the table |14 and chuck 34, the seaming arms are swung into seaming position, that is from their position shown in Fig. 9 to the position shown in Fig. 10, and nally to the position illustrated in Fig. 11, and spin the skirt portion of the cap over the bead 10a of the jar onto the neck portion of the jar and into locking engagement therewith. 1

During this spinning operation, the seaming rolls establish their own plane of travelrelative to the neck portion ofV the jar in view of their vertical play on the pivot pins 69 and yield inwardly and outwardly under or against the spring action of the seaming arms 64 with which they are associated. The length of these spring arms is such that substantially the same pressure is exerted by the rolls against the cap irrespective of any slight inward-or outward floating action of the rolls as the same follow any irregularities or out-of-round conditions of the neck portion of the jar.

Due to the inward tilting of the upper ends of the seaming rolls as the spring arms are bent and spring loaded during their inward movement from the position shown in Fig. l to the position illlustrated in Fig. 11 a downward .tucking action of the seaming rolls is obtained which pushes the skirt portion of the cap downwardly during the spinning operation. This downward tucking action pulls the top panel of the cap tightly against the sealing surface of the jar and thereby effects a perfect hermetical seal between the sealing ring of the cap and the sealing surface of the jar irrespective of any waviness of or'dips in the sealingA surface of the glass Jar.

During this spinning operation while the cam 95 performs one revolution, the glass jar and cap are rotated numerous times and at a higher speed than the gear |04 in View ofthe Speed change obtained by the small gear intermeshing with the large gear |04 so that a perfect spinning application of the cap to the neck portion of the glass jar is obtained before the rotation of the cam 95 is arrested. Thevratio between the gears |04 and |05 may be changed as desired so as to increase or reduce the nurnber of revolutions required for the spinning operation. Upon completion of the rotation of the cam 95 the seaming pressure against therseaming arms is released and the same swing out of engagement with the cap under action of the spring arms 65 and coil springs |40 to their original position, as shown in Fig. 9. The steam supply to the conduit 2l is now shut off.

Thereupon, the table |14 is lowered and at the same time the button 43 is depressed whereby the sealed jar is ejected from the sealing head out of holding engagement with the spring fingers 53 and may now be removed when the table arrives inA its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 1.

While the table is lowered the same assume and is locked in its original horizontal position due to the engagement of the flange |12 by the iiange |'18 under the action of the spring |82, as shown in Fig. 7.

It will be further noted that the seaming pressure of the seaming arms may be varied as desired by adjustment of the set screws 18. The set screws 15 are so adjusted at all times as to prevent contact of the seaming rolls with thev illustrating the present invention, it should be understood; however,4 tha't this seaming head and -the table associated therewith may be used in connection with a continuous rotary seaming machine and in such case the continuous seaming machine may be providedY with a plurality of such seaming he'ads in a manner as' well known in theart. In such case all of the manually performed operations referred to here# in may be automatically performed.

It is further to be understood that while air continuously rotating table and chuck have been illustrated in the present disclosure, both of these units may be intermittently operated in such a manner that the table and chuck are at -rest when a container and cap are presented thereto and may be rotated only during the actual spinning operation. Y

While I have described a particular embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be vmade without departing from the spirit of thepresent invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for spinning metal caps to glass jars comprising means for holding a jar with a cap positioned thereon in sealing engagement therewith, means for rotating said holding means, jar and cap as a unit, a freely rotatable and axially tiltable seaming roll adjacent the skirt of the cap, and means for yieldingly urging the seaming roll against the skirt of the cap` while gradually tiltinglthe axis of the roll into downwardly and outwardly inclined relation with respect to the skirt of the cap to thereby spin the same to the jar with a downward tucking `action during the rotation of said jar and cap.

' 2. A machine for spinning tin caps to glass jars comprising means for holding a jar with a cap positioned on the neck portion thereof and in iirm engagement with the sealing surface of the jar, means for rotating said holding means, jar and cap as a unit, a freely rotatable and axially tiltable seaming roll adjacent the skirt of the cap, and means for urging said roll under predetermined pressurel againstthe skirt of the cap while gradually tilting the axis of the roll into downwardly and outwardly inclined position relative thereto to thereby spin the skirt of the cap to the neck portion of the jar with a downwardly directed tucking action during the rotation of the jar and cap.

l 3. A machine for spinning tin caps to glass jars comprising means for holding a jar with a cap positioned on the neck portion thereof and in firm engagement with the sealing surface of the jar, means for rotating said holding means, jar and cap as a unit, a seaming roll, means rotatably supporting said roll for free vertical movement relative to the skirt of the cap,fand means for urging said roll under predetermined pressure and in downwardly and outwardly inclined position against the skirt of the cap to thereby spin the same to the neck portion of th-e jar with a downward tucking action during the rotation of the jarand cap while the roll is free to establish its own vertical position relative to the skirt 0f the cap.

animent 4. A machine Vfor spinning metal sans to glass jars Ycomprising a sealing .head having a sealing chamber, a rotatable chuck in Said chamber. means for holding a kcap -in said chamber adjacent 'said chuck, a rotatable table for receiving and supporting a glass jar to be closed, means for elevating said table for introducing the neck portion of the glass jar into said sealing chamber into Contact with said cap and for pressing said cap into contact with said chuck, means for rotating said table, jar, cap and chuck as a unit, a searning roll, means rotatably supporting said roll for free vertical movement relative to the skirt of the cap, and means for urging said roll under predetermined pressure against the skirt of the cap and with the axis of the roll disposed in downwardly and outwardly inclined position relative thereto to thereby spin the skirt of the cap to the neck portion of the jar with a downward tucking Vaction during therotation of rthe jar and cap while the roll is free to establish its own vertical position relative tg the skirt of the cap.

A container closing -machine comprising a rotatable table ior supporting a container having a, cap loosely placed thereoma freely rotatable chuck above said table, means for raising said table and the container supported thereby to bring said cap into rm engagement with said chuck, means for rotating `said table, container,

cap and chuck as a unit, a plurality of freely rotatable seaming rolls adjacent said chuck, means for yieldingly supporting said rolls for inward and vertical movement relative to said cap, and

means for operating said supporting means to yieldingly force said rolls under predetermined pressure against the skirt portion of the cap and to tilt the rolls outwardly and downwardly relative thereto whereby the skirt of the cap is Spun onto the neck portion of the container with a downward tucking action exerted upon the skirt of the Vcap by said rollsduring such spinning operation while the seeming rolls are free to vertically and horizontally yield independently of each other in following any irregularities of the neck portion of the container.

6. A machine for spinning tin caps to glass jars comprising a rotatable chuck, means for holding a cap adjacent said chuck, a rotatable table for receiving and supporting a glass jar to be closed, means for elevating said table for presenting the glass `jar to said cap and for pressing said cap into contact with said chuck, means for rotating said table, jar, cap and chuck as a unit, a seaming roll, means rotatably supporting said roll for free vertical movement relative to the skirt of the cap, means for urging said roll under predetermined pressure against the skirt of the cap and with the axis of the roll disposed in downwardly and outwardly inclined position relative to the skirt of the cap to thereby spin the same t the neck portion of the jar with a downward tucking action during rotation of the jar and cap while the roll is free to establish its own vertical position relative to the skirt of the cap, and means for permitting tilting of the table upon contact oi the cap with said chuck to compensate for any non-parallel disposition of the sealing surface of the glass jar relative to the bottom surface of the jar.

7. A machine for spinning tin caps to glass jars comprising means for holding a jarY with a cap positioned thereon in sealing engagement therewith, means for rotating said holding means, jar and cap as a unit, a seaming roll, means for rotatably supporting the seaming roll adjacent the slnrtjof'zthe capfsaid supporting means includ ing a pivotally mounted leaf spring adapted ,to ex .under a predetermined pressure, means for forcing said spring toward said cap Yto engage the seaming roll with the skirt of the cap and to .flex the spring to dis-pose the roll in a clownE wardly and outwardly inclined position with re.- snect to the Skirt of the can to thereby Spin the skirt of the cap to the jar yunder the yielding inward pressure applied by the spring to said roll whereby a downward tuckins action is exerted by the roll against the skirt of Vthe cap in view of the inclined position of the roll relative thereto.

8. A Container closing machine comprising .a rotatable table yfor supporting a container having a cap loosely placed thereon, a rotatable chuck above said table, means for raising said table and theV container supported thereby to bring said call into hrm engagement with said chuck, means for rotating saidvtable, container, cap and chuck as aunit, a plurality of leaf springs movably supported adjacent said chuck, a seaming roll ro-Y tatably and vertically slidably mounted on each' of said springs for engagement with the skirt of the cap, means for moving thessprings inwardly toward s aid chuck to engage the rolls with the skirt ofthe cap and to eX the springs to dispose the rolls in downwardly and outwardly inclined position relative to the skirt of the cap, whereby the skirt of the cap is spun to the container .under a downwardly directed tucking action thereagainst by said rolls while the rolls are free to move vertically relative to the skirt of the cap to thereby establish their own plane oi rotation relative thereto and independently of each other'in conformity with any irregularities of the container.

9. A container holder for container closing machinos .comprising a rotatable table support, a table vertically slidable on said support and r'o' tatable as a unit therewith, and means associated with said table and support for normally rigidly holding the table horizontally disposed relative -to said support and for releasing said table for tilting movement about acentral fulcrum upon downward pressure exerted upon the same by a container.

10. A container holder for container closing machines comprising la rotatabie table support-y ing sleeve having a radially extending ange, a table vertically slidable on saidrsleeve including' aflange, a piston movably mounted within saidk Sleeve, a bau intermediate said piston and table' fol'. ttlbly SUPPQYHE the table thereonL and resilient means for normallyholding the pistmr ball and table in their uppermost position, with theflange 0f the table in engagement with the ange of the sleeve 'and the table locked against tilting movement whereby unen depression of the' table, ball and piston against the tension of the springI the flange of the table is. disengaged from the flange of the sleeve to thereby release the table for free tilting movement thereof.

11. A machine for .Spinning metal .Caps to glass jars comprising a sealing head having a sealing chamber, a rotatable chuck in said chamber, means for holding a cap in said chamber adjacent said chuck, a rotatable table for receiving and supporting a glass jar to be closed, means for elevating said table for introducing the neck portion of the glass jar and the said sealing chamber into contact with said cap and for pressing said cap into contact with said chuck, means for rotating said table, jar, cap and chuck as a unit,"a'sear`nin`g Troll', means rotatably supporting said roll for free Vertical movement relative to the skirt of the cap, means for urging said roll under predetermined pressure and in downwardly and outwardly inclined position against the skirt ofthe cap to thereby spin' the same to the neck portion of the jar with a downward tucking action during the rotation of the jar and cap while the roll is free to establish its own vertical position relative to the skirt of the cap, and means for admitting steam to the sealing chamber upon the introduction of the neck portion of the glass jar into said chamber until the spinning operation of the skirt of the cap to the jar has been completed.

FRANK W. KRUEGER.

14 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

